by Alison Cohn

On the last blistering day of August in New York City, Coco Rocha and 39 other models gearing up for fashion week--including Hannah Holman, Michelle Alves, and Ali Stepka--put on boots made for walking to shoot a PSA-style promo for Nine West's Runway Relief program for Fashion Targets Breast Cancer. Teen Vogue took a water break with Coco to chat about military-chic dressing, where she'll be marching to this Fashion Week, and how you can help stomp out breast cancer.

How did you decide to get involved with the Runway Relief program?

Well, I have my own charity in Canada called Strut for a Cure that helps raise money and awareness for children with cancer, and I also have an auntie who had breast cancer--she is a survivor--so everything coming together, it just felt like a good move!

What advice do you have for how Teen Vogue readers can get involved with the Runway Relief initiative?

What I love about this cause is that it's not an event that only those on the guest list can go to--anyone can be involved! There's a limited edition of the boot that is being sold at Nine West here in New York. If you're not in the city, you can go on their Facebook page to buy your own pair for $199. Or, you can go on Modelinia to help sponsor one of us! Have a fun competition with your friends to support your favorite model and add your own donation to the funds Nine West is contributing to Fashion Targets Breast Cancer for every mile of steps we models take. You can check on us daily, as we'll be blogging every step.

So tell me a little more about these boots.

These boots are army-inspired, which is very appropriate since we're at war for a cause. And of course we have this [reaches into shaft and pulls out pedometer]. I'm already at 3,690 steps today! I won't stop doing this [marches briskly in place]. I have announced that I want to be the girl who takes the most steps during Fashion Week.

What are you doing to assure you put your best foot forward and reach your goal?

I'm making sure I'm walking to every single show. If that means I'm a little late, I'm sorry. It means I'm walking to castings, events. Even from here, I'm walking home.

Wow! Where is home?

It's on the east side, a little uptown, so I'm ok. When it gets to Lincoln Center next week, I'm going to have a little more of an issue!

Sounds like you have a bit more of a trek than you would have to Bryant Park. Are these boots comfortable? Do they fit in with your model-off-duty street style?

They are comfortable! I never like boots that are too feminine, so these are perfect. They have a little heel, but they still have that grunge look. You can wear them everywhere--with shorts, a little dress even.

Anywhere you'll take them off?

When I go to sleep and maybe in the shower--though in the shower I could still keep moving!

From your fairy tale wedding this summer, to your billboard in Times Square, to all the campaigns and editorials--how do you find energy to keep running around and doing it all?

I don't really know! But these kind of charity things like Runway Relief excite me. My first priority when I started modeling was to give back, because so much was given to me.